Most Inspirational Movies of All Time

Inspirational movies do more than just tell us a feel-good story. They give us reason to keep on going and believe that we, too, can achieve greatness. Being able to see characters overcoming epic struggles is what makes them great, and what makes us all feel ready to take on the world.

A good inspirational movie is a great way to spend time celebrating life, or just reminding yourself that all is not lost. Whether you've been feeling depressed, hopeless, or just in the mood for some extra motivation, these inspirational movies will make your spirits soar.

One of the most inspirational movies you'll ever see is Seabiscuit, the classic story of a jockey, a trainer, and a hard-on-luck businessman all teamed up for the race of their lives. The horse they had between the three of them, Seabiscuit, was known for being small and scrawny.

Facing unbelievable odds,Seabiscuit and the gang manage to win one of the most illustrious races of all time. It's a great film that's based on a true story that's become a cornerstone of American hope during the Great Depression.

School of Rock might be Jack Black's best work, outside of Tenacious D—and yes, we're counting it as one of the most inspirational movie. Jack Black plays an out-of-work wannabe rockstar who's given the chance to be a substitute teacher in a downtrodden school.

So, what else could he do, aside from turn his students into a crazy rock band?

It's an irresistibly enjoyable film that'll have you singing along and wishing your music teacher could be just as cool as him. Oh, and it's kid-friendly, so your little brother can enjoy it, too!

Rocky might be the most iconic and inspiring movie on this list—and that's saying something! This movie tells the classic story of a champion fighter who's training to be the best.

If you're looking for a film that'll get you chugging egg smoothies and running up ridiculous flights of stairs, just grab this flick. It's a classic motivational movie for a reason. Sly Stallone has never been better than in his Rocky role.

Homer Hickam is one of those starry-eyed men who always had his head in the clouds—or more specifically, he was always fascinated with rockets and space travel. With the help of a teacher, Hickam makes his passion come to life.

Based on a true story about a coal miner's son who shoots for the stars, October Sky is one of those movies you can't help but feel great watching. You'll fall for the young man and his fellow rocket enthusiasts, guaranteed.

All we're going to say is that Moana is the first Disney princess that doesn't have to rely on some prince to save the day. She stands up to a Demigod. That's a good enough formula for one of the most inspirational movies for us.

The Shawshank Redemption is one of the few inspirational movies on this list that takes place in a property that's designed to remove hope from you—jail. This movie shows the unlikely friendship of two prisoners and how they held onto hope as they tap-tap-tapped away with the goal of leaving Shawshank.

If you've ever felt imprisoned by your own life, watching Morgan Freeman in one of his best roles will help you realize that no "jail" is truly a prison sentence if you look at it the right way.

Slumdog Millionaire is one of the most inspirational movies for a number of reasons. First off, it tells the story of a man who started in dire poverty and rises to the top of society off grit and little else. The movie follows an orphan from Mumbai who wins Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and how he rose above it all.

Second, this movie was entirely made up of actors who legitimately lived in Mumbai slums. Third, it actually was the big break for a number of the actors on set. What more can we say?

If you're looking for fun, inspirational movies about sports, you need to check out indie film Eddie the Eagle. This movie follows the true story of Britain's very first ski jumper as he heads to the Olympics, with the encouragement of his trainer.

For Eddie, it was never about winning; it was always about the love of competition and the Olympics. Any athlete today would be wise to learn from this humble movie—and also check out Hugh Jackman's awesome acting in it.

Forrest Gump is the lead character in one of the most inspirational movies of all time, and yes, the movie is named after him. Forrest Gump follows a happy-go-lucky Vietnam War veteran as he returns home, overcomes adversity, and does it all with a smile on his face.

Forrest is the kind of person who never sees anything as tragedy or unfair. He just gets ahead by following directions and being a great person. All things considered, it's one of the best military comedy movies ever made, and one of the most likeable stories you'll ever hear.

Most of these inspirational movies had a ton of media coverage in their time, but not Joy. This movie follows the true story of a divorced mother of two working a thankless job, while she risks her life savings to market her own invention—the Miracle Mop.

Though she faces opposition from every corner, the Miracle Mop becomes a best seller at QVC. Joy Margano ends up becoming wealthy, and all ends well. Needless to say, anyone facing the daily grind will find joy in Joy.